Overall, Manchester United’s League position doesn’t represent their play this season; in fact, they need to be lower.
There is mounting pressure on Erik ten Hag to perform, but he keeps having the same issues in every game and shows no indications of improvement.
There is some good news from this season: the development of young players like Alejandro Garnacho, who emerged as a mainstay for Manchester United and contributed to their success in the Premier League with seven goals and three assists.
The winger has solidified his place in the starting lineup at the tender age of 19, and his impressive play only gets better from here. Picture him with a new full-back to help him reach new heights.
Manchester United’s pursuit of a backup left back
Since the Dutch manager hasn’t had a single available player to play left back all season, the position has been a major headache.
That is the present situation as a result of injuries to Tyrell Malacia (who is expected to miss the whole campaign) and Luke Shaw. But young Harry Amass has been getting some playing experience with the first team, as he was a substitute last Sunday against Liverpool.
According to the Sunday Mirror via TeamTALK, Sir Jim Ratcliffe is reportedly eager to add a left back to his roster this summer, and Miguel Gutierrez is being considered as a possible first target.
Real Madrid has a £6.8m buy-back clause and Arsenal has scouted the Spanish player before, so the English club won’t have a free run at him.
Having stated that, let’s examine the impact Gutierrez may have on Garnacho specifically.
Why Gutierrez might be able to transform Garnacho into a creature
Gutierrez has been sensational this season in Spain, stealing the show for Girona and winning over football fans all around Europe.
In 28 La Liga games, the 22-year-old defender has been outstanding, proving he can have an impact on defence and offence.
Most notably, he hasn’t been hurt once this entire season; the only time he’s ever been hurt was during the 2021–22 season.
Consequently, he would have the opportunity to form a fantastic partnership with Garnacho, who is gradually establishing himself as the Red Devils’ starting left back, even surpassing Marcus Rashford in that regard.
The table below shows Gutierrez’s recent performance versus Rayo Vallecano. Scout Jacek Kulig called him a “fantastic” ace, and you can see why: he’s a very well-rounded talent.
To begin with, the third defender is a rock-solid defender who relishes taking the initiative, as seen by his six duels won, zero goals allowed, and two interceptions.
But it’s Gutierrez’s danger in the final third that might help Garnacho develop; the Argentine often chooses straight dribbling to avoid challenges and force defenders out of position, which could open up opportunities for Garnacho to score.
His assist, three crucial passes, and two huge opportunities generated all attest to the Spaniard’s accuracy with the ball. His overlapping runs made United’s left-wing assault much less predictable and gave Garnacho options to cut inside or lay the ball off.
In addition, the former Madrid star is presently tied with Bruno Fernandes in the Premier League for the most significant chances created with fourteen, thirteen more than Shaw. This puts him in first place for La Liga.
In general, United have been in need of a dependable left back for quite some time, and Gutierrez certainly fits the bill for the type of player that Ten Hag’s squad is looking for. It may also be the turning point in the career of one of the club’s most promising young players.
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